Price-wise, I got a zenbook for 2/3 the price, with a 3200x1800 screen (instead of 1920x1080), a slower CPU, same RAM, larger SSD, most other details the same. It's a better fit for my needs, and runs Linux perfectly. I agree completely about the screen - a decent HiDPI screen is quite wonderful.
Also, I wouldn't want any of the distribution options they offer to pre-load. And I wouldn't want a pre-loaded OS anyway.
I'm not trying to discourage a worthy goal, but these are some of the issues that this company has to overcome.
Re:Station X Linux Machines
by freedomben on Thursday November 23, 2017 @10:32AM
(#15765606)
Having done the "buy a Windows laptop and load linux on it" thing for many years and many generations, I think I'm done. I have now had a Dell preloaded with Ubuntu and a System76 and I don't think I'll ever go back. The Dell has special drivers tho for backlight and other things, so loading a different distro is a little more work than a System76 is.
Does System76 work on upstreaming these special drivers, or are you just stuck with whatever they slap on the disk if you want all hardware to work?
Re:Station X Linux Machines
by freedomben on Thursday November 23, 2017 @10:59AM
(#15765816)
Yes, they do specifically work on upstreaming the drivers into the Linux kernel.
I found this post from System76 to be really interesting: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/5umefi/system76_refr...
They're also lacking a 4k laptop, which I would highly recommend to anyone used to working on the road. (or who has to show of work to clients in person).